Contrary to previous forecasts suggesting that March would see above normal levels of rainfall, the third calendar month saw total national rainfall of 38.1mm, equivalent to 64% of the historical average (59.4mm).
According to information provided by MSc Argelio Omar Fernández Richelme, of the Department for the Rational Use of Water of the National Water Resources Institute (INRH), the three regions of the island saw rainfall below expected levels. In the west of the island, total rainfall was 30.6mm (55%), in the central region it was 34.1mm (62%), while in the east it was 49.2mm (73%).
The lowest levels of rainfall, both in total and relative to last year, were seen in Havana, where only 15mm fell throughout March, occurring entirely on Sunday 20th.
Despite the substantial reduction in rainfall compared to the period between November 2015 and January 2016, by the end of March the current dry season had seen total rainfall of 352mm, 135% of what should fall within these five months.
The same source noted that at the end of last month, the 242 reservoirs managed by the INRH had collected 4.499 billion cubic meters of water, 49% of total capacity, and 45% of usable capacity.
This volume is 768 million cubic meters below the historical average for the period, but up by approximately 598 million m3 compared to the same period last year.
Regarding the situation of dams supplying water to the population, the provinces of Artemisa and Pinar del Río are in the most favorable conditions, with 66% and 63% capacity, respectively, while the most critical situation continues to be seen in Santiago de Cuba and Las Tunas, with capacity at just 17% and 14%, respectively.
Also, of the 15 category one groundwater basins linked to the water supply of major cities and resorts, eight are in the normal range (four down and four up), six are in adverse conditions and one is critically low. The basin of Vento, which supplies some 900,000 people in the capital, is currently at an adversely low level.
